Taking Tylenol While Pregnant

Could This Common Pill Harm Your Future Child?

All moms-to-be may want to take a look through their medicine cabinets. Recent studies suggests that acetaminophen, the active ingredient in Tylenol and Excedrin, may increase the risk of ADHD in children. After analyzing the medical history of more than 64,000 women and their children, researchers found that children whose mothers took acetaminophen while pregnant had a 13 to 37 percent greater risk of later being diagnosed with or experiencing behavior associated with ADHD.

These new findings, while preliminary, could be a game changer for expecting mothers. Though pregnant women have been discouraged from taking aspirin and ibuprofen during their third trimester, they were told that acetaminophen-based medication is safe to take. Now they may be forced to find natural ways to treat a migraine or fever.

"I think, given the results of this study and previous studies showing the potential health risk, pregnant women should be more cautious," says Zeyan Liew, an author on the study. "If possible, do not take it when it is not necessary, and try to reduce the amount of usage when needed."